The holiday spirit was in full force at Walmart this morning as 40 elementary school students teamed up with members of local law enforcement to “Shop with a Cop.”
The students from the Butler Area School District were partnered with officers from various departments in Butler. Among those who were there were members of Butler Township Police, State Police in Butler, the Sheriff’s department, the VA, the DEA, and retired state police officers who currently work as security guards at the Butler Area School District.
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe helped coordinate the event.
“It was a no-brainer. I spoke with Angela Fleeger (representative of Walmart) and we both said to each other, ‘Why aren’t we doing this?” Slupe said. “I talked with John Hays, the chief of Butler Township and he was all-in. And, by golly, the amount of kids and troopers from all over the place is overwhelming. It’s just a great thing.”
Hays also played an instrumental part in organizing the event.
“It was kind of short notice, but we went for it,” Hays said. “Luckily we were able to get the police together. The school got the kids together. And the transportation teams to get the kids here on buses. And now it all accumulated into today.”
Walmart and their foundation donated $5,000 toward the gifts. Organizers hope to make this an annual event.
